Machine for splitting pigs&#39; feet.



PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907.

J. GUNNING.

MACHINE PORSPLITTINGPIGS FEET.

APPLICATION FILED 0013.11. 1904.

JAMES GUN N IN G, OF IN DIANAPOLI S, INDIAN A.

"MACHINE FOR SPLITTING PIGS FEET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 11,1904. Serial No. 228,661.

Patented June 18, 1907.

To .aZZ whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, JAMEs OUNNING, a citizen of the United States, residing'at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Splitting Pigs Feet, set forth in the following specification and illustrated in drawings, in which similar letters of reference throughout the difierent figures represent similar parts.

My invention relates to machines for splitting or cutting pigs feet longitudinally in two parts by the use of a band saw-cutting them through the cleft of the-hoof, andhaving for its special objects-thatof safety to the operator, efliciency, and rapidity ofthe workand ease of operation, that the operator may place the pigs feet in the movingchannelway provided by two parallel traveling chains mounted on the saw table and traveling 1n the same direction oneach side of-the .saw, guide plates and spurs beingjprovided on the links of each chain so that when corresponding spurs are traveling past the saw, pockets or divisions are formed in the said channel-way in which the pigs feet are placed by the operator at a safe distance from the saw, and are carried beneath a pressure plate or guide so that they are presented properly to the saw without the attention of the attendant.

I have illustrated and specified my invention in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in the different views of which similar reference characters indicate similar parts.

In the drawings Figure l is a front elevation of the complete device; Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the table detached and the chains mounted thereon; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the pressure plate detached; Fig. 5 is a side view of the same; Fig. 6 is an enlarged broken plan view, detached, of the feeding chains. Fig. 7 is an enlarged broken and partly sectional end view of the table, chains and guides.

In the drawings (1 represents an ordinary frame or stand on which are mounted rotative straight rimmed wheels 0/, preferably covered at the rim with. leather or some yielding material to rotect the band saw 0 carried thereby; b is t 1e table through which the saw passes down on the cutting side, through the center thereof, an opening 11 being preferably provided at the middle of the the accomp anying table that the saw may be readily removed; at b is provided ,an ample o ening through which the split product may all from the table; (1, d, are feeding chains mounted on opposite sides of the saw on the saw table, being carried and driven by s rocket wheels (1 spaced apart on the tab e, and with hand wheels 01 connected to screws 61 engaging with sleeves d in which the shafts or studs of the sprocket wheels d are mounted, to adjust the chains as desired. The shafts d of said sprocket wheels are providedwith bevel gears d with which bevel gears d on a cross shaft d engage, one of the shafts (Z extending downwardly and provided with a worm gear K engaging with a worm pinion on the drive shaft g of the lower The shaft 9 is adapted to be operated in any suitable manner, and for the urpose of illustration drive pulleys g are sfiown. By this means it will be obvious that when motion is imparted to the shaft. g for operating the band-saw c,- motion will likewise be imparted in the opposite direction to the chains (Z, as indicated by the-arrows in Figs. 3 and 6.

Each link of the chains d is provided with an arching projection'd, and a certain predetermined number of these projections are provided with laterally extending feed spurs (P, the spurs being s aced apart to correspond to the lengths o' the pigs feet, as illustrated in Fig. 6. inwardly curving plates 11 over which the arching projections d of the links d of the chains are operated, and by means of which the inner sides of the chains are deflected, or caused to travel in inwardly curving courses, to form guide ways which constantly decrease in width toward the saw and then constantly increase in width after they pass the saw. By this means the insertion of the pigs feet is facilitated and thelabor reduced, as will be obvious. Swinging upon a rod 6 above the inner sides of the chains 01 is a pressure plate 6, the plate being spring supported as at 6 and bearing yieldably upon the pigs feet represented at f, as they are carried beneath the plate by the chains. The plate 6 thus serves to retain the pigs feet in place, and prevents their displacement during the operation of the saw. In operation the said pressure plate presses on the foot to be out in two as seen in Fig. 4. The parts of the foot when out in two are represented at f 2 Fig. 6. It is evident that in the application of my invention a number ofvariations may be reband pulleys a- Attached to the table are sorted to Without departing from my invention, and I desire it understood that I hold myself at liberty to make it in all such variations as fall fairly within the spirit and scope of my invention and What I desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s:

1. In a device of the character described, a table, a band-saw operating through said table, endless chains spaced apart and arranged to travel upon opposite sides of said band-saw parallel with the cuttin plane thereof, means carried by said chains For feeding the material between them and against the saw, and means for causing the inner sides of said chains to approach and recede from said saw.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with suitable supports carrying a band-saw and operating mechanism therefor, of a table provided with an aperture to receive said band-saw, endless conveyers formed of connected links arranged on each side of said band-saw and operated by the band-saw mechanism, said endless conveyers having an arched member extending from each link, and means carried by said table for regulating the distance between said conveyers.

3. In a machine of the class described, a table, a band-saw operating through said table, an endless chain on each side of the saw and traveling across the table and adapted to feed the material to the saw, a spring pressure plate adapted toyield ably bear on the material as it passes beneath the plate, and laterally projecting spurs extending from each chain and spaced at'uniform distances to feed the material to the saw and to deliver the severed parts from the saw.

' 4. In a device of the class described, a table, a band-saw operating through said table, endless chains spaced apart and arranged to travel upon opposite sides of said band-saw parallel with the cutting plane thereof, the links of said chains provided with. arching projections and with a plurality of said projections provided with lateral feeding spurs, and inwardly curving plates carried by said table and over which said arching proj ections are adapted to pass to causethe inner sides of the chains to travel in courses toward the saw at one side and away from the saw at the other side.

5. In a device of the class described, a

'table, a band-saw operating through said table, endless chains spaced apart and arranged to travel upon opposite sides of said b and-saw parallel with the cutting plane thereof, the links of said chains provided with arching projections and with a plurality of said projections provided with lateral feeding spurs, inwardly curving plates carried by said table and over which said arching projections are adapted to pass to cause the inner sides of the chains to travel in courses toward the saw at one side and away from the saw at the other side, and a spring pressed pressure plate arranged between said chains and in advance of the saw and adapted to yieldably press up on the material passing beneath it. Signed this 12 day of August 1904.

JAMES CUNNING. Witnesses:

E. F. BURROWS. JAS. N. DUNCAN. 

